Assessment of the Quality of Life amongst 0-3 Year-Old Children Followed with a Diagnosis of Food Allergy

Objective: Food allergy can adversely affect children’s quality of life. This descriptive study was conducted with the aim of determining the quality of life of children aged 0-3 who were diagnosed with food allergy. Methods: A total of 105 parents with children aged 0-3 and diagnosed with food allergy participated in the study. The data were collected using a ‘Descriptive Information Form’ and the ‘The Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF)’. Number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation values, as well as the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test, were used for data analysis. Results: Among the participating parents, 76.2% were mothers, and 23.8% were fathers. The mean age of the children was 21.82±8.64 months, with 53.3% being male. 73.3% of the children were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. The average score of the FAQLQ-PF was 2.40±0.73, indicating a moderate level of quality of life of children. There was a statistically significant difference in FAQLQ-PF scores based on the child’s age and diagnosis (p<0.05). Conclusions: According to mothers, the quality of life related to food allergy for children aged 0-3 years is at a moderate level in this study. It was observed that as the child’s age increases, there is a decrease in the quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly assess the quality of life of children with food allergies.